Choosing a home inspection company is an important decision for every home buyer. A thorough, pre-purchase inspection of a house can be your best defense against unwanted surprises after you move into your new home.

On this page of our site, we'll try to give you some insight into what questions you should ask when selecting a home inspection service. Even if you don't choose Move Smart, Inc., we'd like to help you make an educated decision.

QUESTIONS

The Company

1. We have been in the residential inspection business since 2001.
2. We are not involved in any other business. In accordance with the ASHI® Standards of Practice, we do not participate in any referral or construction related activities. It represents a conflict of interest.
3. Yes, we do carry both Errors & Omissions insurance. In the amount of $1,500,000 per incident.
4. We always encourage buyers to attend the inspection. Buyers that attend have a better understanding of the property as viewed by the inspector and are better able to read and interpret the final report. The buyer's attendance also helps them understand the scope of a home inspection as well as the limitations.
5. Move Smart has very flexible scheduling and can usually be scheduled in one or two days. Move Smart also schedules 7 days a week and evenings.
6. A typical inspection of a 2400 square foot house averages 2.5-3 hours. This of course depends on how many problems the home has as well as how many questions the buyer or realtor has.

The Inspectors

1. Our inspectors have extensive experience in performing home inspections. They attend one of the nation's most respected training programs, offered by the American Home Inspector's Training Institute. They then are rigorously trained by our own training staff for a long period of time before they are allowed to operate by themselves.
2. All inspectors are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors® (ASHI) a non-profit professional group dedicated to establishing standards of excellence for professional home inspectors. In addition, our inspectors are all licensed by the State of Washington to perform Structural Pest Inspections and look for termites, carpenter ants, moisture ants, other wood destroying organisms and the conducive conditions that would make them want to occupy your home. Collectively our inspector staff also holds memberships in the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), and the Washington State Pest Control Association (WSPCA).

The Report

1. Our full inspection fees vary slightly depending on the size of the house. In addition to our full home inspection we offer structural pest inspections, lead paint inspections, and gas line inspections. For forms of payment our company accepts Visa and Mastercard as well as checks, cash, money orders, and cashier's checks. Call our office at 253-631-4019 for a specific quotation on your home.
2. A full inspection covers the Site and Grounds, Exterior (siding, trim, etc.), Structural Components, Foundation, Roof and Roof Drainage Systems, Attic, Insulation, Ventilation, Plumbing, Electrical, Heating/AC, Garage, Kitchen, Bathrooms, Crawlspace or Basement, and Interior components.
3. Yes, we prepare an extensive written report that generally runs 10-15 pages. It looks at each component of the home individually and has a summary page to let you know the overall condition of your new home and any areas of concern. We summarize all findings on our Summary Page, separate them into categories and number code them within those categories. There is guessing. You will clearly know what we found and how severe, routine, or unsafe it is.
   A comprehensive Seasonal Maintenance Schedule is also provided for your home, so you know how to protect your investment in every season of the year.
4. The report is computer generated on-site. There are no sloppy hand-written checklists, and you don't have to wait for the report.
5. The report is available the same day.
6. You can receive a sample report as well as a guide to selecting a good home inspector by contacting our office at 253-631-4019.
7. Yes, our reports conform to the ASHI® Standards of Practice.